It was pretty interesting article. Do you agree with this top 10 AWD cars & SUV under $25k?
#10 – Kia Sportage#9 – Nissan Juke
#8 – Mazda CX-5
#7 – Nissan Rogue
#6 – Honda CR-V
#5 – Subaru VX Crosstrek
#4 – Subaru Impreza
#3 – Subaru Legacy
#2 – Subaru Outback
#1 – Subaru Forester
Reference: Kelly Blue Book
All these cars are amazing cars and lucky for MotorTrend (…luck got nothing to do with it, I guess) had a chance to take all three cars to Laguna Seca to see which is the driver’s car.
Do you agree with their verdict?
Tada-san talk about having possible of hatch 86 along w having hard time w BMW members.
Reference: Toyota UK Blog
Tetsuya Tada, the chief engineer for GT86 talks about the FT-86 Open convertible concept unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, working with BMW, dogs and drinking beer…
There’s no doubt that the Toyota GT86 is a special car, but as we recently reported, without major backing from on high within Toyota, it might never have happened.
Andrew English, who produced that story for us, caught up with GT86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada for part two of that original tale. This time to talk convertibles, shooting brakes, saloons and of courseBMW…
Here’s Tada-san’s story, in his own words.
“As far as the convertible is concerned, there’s still some way to go before production. We’ve got many engineering challenges and not all of them are solved yet.
“But from the outset, when we were engineering the coupé, we had the cabrio in mind. So we knew all the hard points that would be involved when it became an open top and bore those in mind. So the indexed windows are one highlight, also the way we laid out the rear suspension to allow for the folding roof.
“Our exterior designer has already had in his mind having a cabrio version, so in his drawings he did a cut-off roof. The designer, Mr Brouchan, he likes convertibles. At the beginning of the project I wasn’t too concerned about a convertible version, but I would sneak up on him and he was always drawing a drophead. I would say, ‘you’re drawing a convertible, again!’.
“Mass producing a sports car for a company like Toyota carries a big business risk and we’ve tried to mitigate that risk with our collaboration with Subaru. We say, ‘mitigate’ in one [easy] word, but we had to make some really tough decisions for us to realise this. Also, along the way, we investigated the possibility of a sedan [saloon] and a shooting brake.
“Actually we tried to do this secretly but the executives found us out. They said: “what are you doing? Will you please focus on the coupé.” So that was our focal point and it was only with the success of the coupé that we were able to bring out the prototype of the convertible. It would never have existed without the support from you and the customers.
“It’s just my personal dream that the GT86 could become a family like what BMW has done with the Mini family. I hope that happens. I also have five dogs myself and I would like to have them in the car, so a sports shooting break would be just right.
“Actually I am flying to Munich after the [Geneva] motor show for discussion about the future cooperation with BMW. We are already discussing what we can do and the potential results of this collaboration. One of the things we learned from our cooperation with Subaru is how to bring these two different cultures together. Something like the GT86 sports car was particularly difficult in terms of collaboration, but what we can take from it is the experience of figuring out how we can get the obstacles to us working together for us. I am hoping that we can leverage this experience when we work with BMW. So just like we bought the GT86 out of our work with Subaru, I am hoping for a synergy effect with BMW that will result in a product that none of us could have imagined; something more than anyone expects. I would like that to be something like a sports car… I would even go so far as to say that for the collaboration to work we have to bring a product which exceeds all these expectations.
“It is absolutely essential to have great connections with each other that go beyond just pure business logic. I was able to have remarkable encounters with people at Subaru and we had supporters behind us on the Toyota and the Subaru side. I’d even say these connections have to happen if the BMW collaboration is to work. If we carried along the lines of same-old, same-old, then nothing good will come out of this.
“At the moment we are struggling, because we are having this really business-like dealing with BMW and we haven’t really been able to get through that barrier so far. Perhaps I need to meet them socially and drink beer and eat sausage together. In fact the one time I felt we went beyond the business-like barrier was when we all went to Oktoberfest and drank beer. That was the one time, when we were drinking together that I thought, these are unexpectedly good people…
“I have a friend in Mazda, he is chief engineer on the MX-5 and of course they have just announced a cooperation with Alfa Romeo. Because we talk a lot, I know he is going through very tough times because he is trying to get this project rolling. In collaborative projects like we have experienced, there is always going to be a long, long time where you are in doubt about it all, asking yourself, ‘why are we doing this? Why are we in this collaboration? Wouldn’t it be quicker just to do it ourselves?’ – there’s always this period. Luckily for the collaboration on the GT86, we got to a turning point in the collaboration, where we became one team (Team 86) and that goes beyond being Japanese and German, but having a common goal and all working towards the same thing. I’m hoping that the collaboration between Toyota and BMW will at some stage reach the same thing.
“We are investigating several aspects [to this deal] and I assume that it will be much tougher than what we’ve had with the Subaru deal. One thing that makes it difficult is that we don’t have a cross shareholding relationship.”
Well, looks like it’s gonna be more than language barrier Tada-san need to break. I wish him a luck and hope to see hatch 86 and other awesome car co-design by both Toyota & BMW
Jalopnik did another survey, this time was the ten cutest car ever made. I cannot fully agree with some of them. Like Peel P50, that’s not cute… just dangerous (Top Gear).
Reference: Jalopnik
10.) Fiat Jolly
Everyone knows the super-cute original Fiat 500, but there was an even cuter version, the Jolly. Built for hot-weather beach bums, it’s like they made the seats out of picnic baskets. We want one full of puppies.
Suggested By: _Mécanicien, Photo Credit: Tiago Pereira
9.) Austin-Healey Sprite
The ‘Frogeye’ Sprite has one of the happiest faces in all of motordom, but what hard to see in pictures is just how tiny these things are. You can pretty much stuff them in your pocket.
Suggested By: Ultrasuedecushion, Photo Credit: Austin-Healey/Alden Jewell
8.) Peel P50
Smaller still is the world’s littlest car, the Peel P50. You can drive these things right into office buildings they’re so small. And look at its little front wheels, poking out like an angry Dachshund!
Suggested By: formulka, Photo Credit: Top Gear
7.) Autobianchi Bianchina/Nissan Figaro
The Autobianchi Bianchina took the underpinnings of the Fiat 500 and made them even cuter. It hurts to look at for too long because my brain starts to melt. A dead-ringer for the ‘60s Bianchina was the very retro Nissan Figaro of the ‘90s, which also makes my heart weep with joy.
Suggested By: Patrick Frawley and Jason Macierowski, Photo Credit: The Pink Panther/Nissan
6.) Geely Panda
The award for cutest car in production today goes to the Geely Panda because holy crap it looks like a panda and I want to feed it bamboo and read it bedtime stories.
Suggested By: Wrong wheel drive and Superkiwizorro, Photo Credit: Geely
5.) Nissan S-Cargo
Another one of Nissan’s retro follies was the S-Cargo van. It’s got the same little face as the other cars on this list, but a bulky body for moving stuff. That makes the S-Cargo look something like a super chubby baby seal, all smiley face and pudgy butt. Practicality is the new cute.
Suggested By: SennaMP4, Photo Credit: Nissan/Alden Jewell
4.) P. Vallee Chantecler
It’s hard to get cuter than the “bubble cars” made after WWII. The Paul Vallee Chantecler has all of five horsepower and is as close as you can get to driving around in an egg.
Suggested By: Jonee, Photo Credit: Darin Schnabel/RM Auctions
3.) Meadows Frisky Friskysport
This little British (and sometimes Egyptian) charmer clearly wins the award for the cutest name in the car world. Friskysport!
Suggested By: Sir Ramblin Rover, Photo Credit: Georg Schwalbach
2.) Mazda Porter Cab
Japan’s little Kei-cars are cute, but even cuter are their kei vans and pickups! You could probably fit a whole potted plant in the back of this ‘60s Mazda, which would probably struggle up hills like the little engine that could.
Suggested By: Maxximtl, Photo Credit: Ypy31/Wikipedia
1.) A Dune Buggy
The Meyers Manx is about as adorable as a car can be. It’s got a happy face, it’s shaped like a baby pug, and it jumps like a puppy. You can’t beat a car built for running around in the dirt and jumping stuff.
Suggested By: p.d.morgan33 and Brian, The Life of, Photo Credit: Hot Rod
Do you agree with this list?
Jalopnik did another Ten Cars list. This time is for future car that’s coming about next year (or 2014).
Referece: Jalopnik
10.) Jaguar F-Type
The smallest Jag will likely be a critical car for the now-Indian company, so there’s no question it will be talked about in industry circles. No need to wonder if regular folks will talk about it, because, hey, it’s drop-dead gorgeous.
Suggested By: Hammerheadfistpunch, Photo Credit: GF Williams
9.) McLaren P1
It’s the successor to the McLaren F1. Either the P1 will live up to its predecessor’s name or the bar has been set too high for this hybrid hypercar. You’re going to hear that debate, as well as the one arguing F150 Ferrari vs. Porsche 918 vs. McLaren P1, ten bajillion times next year, for sure.
Suggested By: TheBaron2112, Photo Credit: GF Williams
8.) Alfa Romeo 4C
This is another car that’s going to be talked about whether or not it succeeds. Possibility One: the car never makes it to the US, Alfa’s relaunch in America flops again, and everyone gives us the same talking points we’ve been hearing since the 8C. Possibility Two: the car makes it here, is a success, and we get to talk about the continuing rebirth of small, light sportscars that the Toyobaru Twins got started.
You know which scenario we’re hoping happens.
Suggested By: wisc47, Photo Credit: Jalopnik
7.) Tesla Model X
It’s all well and good that Tesla has been breaking into the sports car and performance luxury sedan markets with the Roadster and the Model S, but the real money these days is in the crossover segment. Tesla’s venture into jacked-up pseudo wagons may be its toughest challenge.
Suggested By: twinturbo2, Photo Credit: Jalopnik
6.) Mazda6 Diesel
The next Mazda6 will be a decisive car for our favorite struggling Japanese automaker, but it’s the diesel that we hope makes the headlines. It would be the first major non-German company to pull American hearts towards diesel. Much as we love VW, Audi and BMW’s efforts, this pretty Mazda may be more important.
Suggested By: crown victor victoria, Photo Credit: Jalopnik
5.) Chevy Silverado
GM’s new full size trucks may be more conservative than a Tea Party representative, but since it’s the critical offering for the company, we’ll be hearing a lot about it, especially since Chevy’s midsize family car has been a bit of a flop so far.
Suggested By: adidas, Photo Credit: Chevrolet
4.) Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Mercedes makes its name on its humongo S-Class, with all its technology and leather and prestige. Mercedes makes its money on smaller cars that sell themselves on the S-Class’ name, but with Hyundai-esque styling and even smaller size, the new A-Class may stretch the brand too thin for us Americans.
Suggested By: Bobby Ang, Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz
3.) Ferrari F150
You can preach all you want about the McLaren P1 and the Porsche 918, but the most anticipated hypercar of 2013 is going to be the replacement for the Ferrari Enzo. Why? Because it’s a Ferrari. Eight year olds in Gambia know that Ferrari is going to debut a hybrid world-beater next year with the same name as Ford’s big truck. The car is going to be huge.
Suggested By: downgoesavery, Photo Credit: Ferrari
2.) 2014.5 Mustang
The next Mustang will fully debut in 2014, but even now we’re getting overloaded with speculation and renderings. The Mustang is certainly the most searched-for car on the Internet already, and the debate over its slightly more international style will be ceaseless all through next year.
Suggested By: racer-esq, Photo Credit: Jalopnik, based on work by Josh Byrnes
1.) 2014 C7 Corvette
You know the upcoming Corvette is going to be wildly talked-about because hardcore Corvette enthusiasts already hate the thing and can’t stop complaining about the angular looks. Everyone from Jeremy Clarkson to your grandma will be blabbing about the most radical revision of America’s Sportscar in decades. We’ll see if it lives up to the hype.
I do agree that, all of those ten cars will be talked about in next year… but top ten? I don’t know. There are other cars will come out that will be talked about more. Which one? I, myself, can only guess… but I think, Nissan will bring something in one of International Auto Show
In the Car Scoop, they have released an interesting article about next RX-7.
Reference: Car Scoop
If Helen of Troy was the face that launched a thousand ships, then the Mazda RX-7 is definitely the car that has launched a thousand rumors about being resurrected since its discontinuation a decade ago.Even though it was replaced by the more practical, and still rotary-engine-powered, RX-8 in 2004, the hardcore RX-7 still holds a special place in the hearts of many sports car lovers around the world.
Since August 2011, when production of the RX-8 ceased, Mazda, the sole champion of rotary engines, does not have such a model in its line-up.
RX-7 fans will nevertheless be delighted to hear that the Hiroshima-based carmaker’s chief of sports car division Nobuhiro Yamamoto told The Motor Report during the launch of the revamped MX-5 roadster in Australia that the RX-7 is set to return in 2017.
The year coincides with the 50th anniversary of Mazda’s first Wankel-engined model, the Cosmo Sport, in 1967. Yamamoto, who also led the development of the 26B engine that powered the 787B to victory at Le Mans in 1991, said that specs of the fourth-generation RX-7 are not yet carved in stone.
The 1.3-liter 13B Renesis that powered the RX-8 will be dumped in favor of a development of the 16X, a 1.6-liter unit that despite being unveiled five years ago, hasn’t been used in any of Mazda’s production models yet.
According to Yamamoto, by using a special catalyst the new engine won’t have a problem meeting the stricter Euro VI emission regulations that will come into effect in 2017.
He added that the 16X motor is capable of producing 295HP (300PS, 220 Kw) – and that’s in normally aspirated form. Since his priorities are instant throttle response and linear power delivery, turbocharging is not very high in his agenda.
Yamamoto didn’t completely rule it out, though: “At this time, it has not been determined. Maybe later in life it will be turbo, but to start with maybe not”.
Built on a modified version of the next-generation MX-5 platform, the 2017 RX-7 “would definitely be lighter” than the third-generation model and “probably around the weight of the Toyota 86”, which means about 1,250 kg (2,750 pounds).
This will be made possible by the extended use of lightweight materials like aluminum. Carbon fiber won’t be employed due to its high cost, and hybrid or KERS systems are off the cards, too, because Yamamoto believes that the engine “for a pure sports car, it must be internal combustion.”
Although the GT86 was mentioned, Mazda’s sports car chief said that the new RX-7 won’t come cheap as it’s designed to be a premium product.
By Andrew Tsaousis
It’s interesting that, they reference Toyota 86, but not competing against the 86. I think Toyota have put a great standard for sport car world. Yes, some still thinks, 86 is an underpower weak sports car. Each and their own opinion, so not gonna fight it. BUT at the same time, they cannot disagree that, Toyota DID put up a pretty high up standards for sports car.
What do you think? Do you want next gen RX-7? If you say yes or even no, how much are you will to fork over for what spec?
Gotta love Jalopnik, they always has “Top 10” this and that stuff for auto topic. This time was “The most Impressive Car Company Headquarters in the World”. It’s interesting to see all those HQ that was listed in the top 10. Anyone here went to any of em?
Reference site: Jalopnik
I for one want to go to Mazda USA HQ & BMW HQ.
Everyone knows best production RX-7 was Spirit R and I, myself thought you can only get Spirit R in RHD. Well, I was wrong, Carlos Lago from Ignition had a chance to drive LHD Mazda RX-7 Spirit R… one and only.
Only thing I can say is I ENVY HIM…
Lightweight is a weapon in a racing
Keiichi Tsuchiya
I think 86 is a perfect example. Here’s a vid of 86 & other car going through little tests. It’s pretty interesting how each car moves.
Today, while I was driving, I saw Celica convertible, S2000, Miata, & Rx-7 convertible (FC3S) driving. From the looks of it, they’re prob hitting the canyon and do some picnic or something. It’s wonderful day, I totally understand that feeling!
Now, here’s another question blog. What kind of convertible do you want to have? Maybe S2000 or Miata and hit the canyon road fast and do some initial-D fun? Maybe 458 Italia or Gallardo convertible for some power! Maybe Mustang or Camaro and listen to the V engine while you drive…
I’ll prob choose this car:
Toyota MR-S
Last gen MR-2 didn’t come w turbo or high output (in US), but it wasn’t less fun to drive than other MR-2. For cruise and calm driving, it was perfect! It sure didn’t win any look award for sure. Some people can’t the if they’re looking at the front of the car or rear of the car. BUT how light this car was, if you want to attack the canyon, it’s great! Mid-engined, RWD, plus lightweight equal to pure fun!
How about you?
Ichitaka05's Auto Blog 
